Kamp Abbey, Cistercian abbey and gardens in Kamp-Lintfort, Germany
Kamp Abbey is a former Cistercian institution with a Gothic church, museum and landscaped gardens on a hill in Kamp-Lintfort. The terraced grounds surround the monastery buildings and lead from the upper entrance down to the parkland at the base of the site.
The monastery emerged in 1123 as the first Cistercian institution in German-speaking lands and soon began establishing further houses across Europe. Over the centuries it remained a center of monastic life until it lost its original function after secularization.
The name comes from a field camp where Roman soldiers once stationed centuries ago. Today the former monastery serves as a venue for concerts and gatherings, where visitors walk through the restored rooms and take in the atmosphere.
The grounds work well for a walk through the church, museum and gardens, with paths between the different areas largely accessible. Cultural events take place throughout the year, so checking the current program beforehand is worthwhile.
The terraced gardens were laid out around 1740 and originally served to grow vegetables and fruit for the community. Today fruit trees and beds still grow there, recalling the earlier agricultural use.
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